Sand and base rock

Zante · 04/25/2013, 02:30 AM

My larger tank is currently empty. I am making some changes to the sump, so it will be empty for a while yet.
It's supposed to be an upgrade for an existing reef (from 29 to 150 US gallons).

My plan is to place dry base rock on which to build the reef and then add a layer of dry sand. The live sand I have in my current reef will then seed the dry sand when I'll transfer the contents of the smaller reef.

The live rock will be then placed using the dry rock as a base.

(I will fill the tank with water before I put the live sand and rocks in don't worry

)

Question is: what sand should I go for? Crushed coral? Aragonite? Something else? A mix?
I am a saltwater noob, so I really don't know what the difference is and what else is out there apart from aragonite and crushed coral.
Currently in the smaller reef there is a 50/50 mix of both, fine aragonite and coarser (1-2mm) crushed coral.

Definitely it will have to be white. I like the look of fine sand, but I can live with a larger grain if recommended for my critters.

I will have some flasher wrasses (not sure if they need sand but mentioning them anyway), yellow watchman gobies, tiger pistol shrimps, nassarius snails, a fighter conch. There is more stock, but not sand-dwelling.

thegrun · 04/25/2013, 06:49 AM

I would avoid the crushed coral, it traps detritus which leads to long term nitrate issues. Fine sand looks great and the fish love it, but it does tend to get blown around the tank a lot with water movement so many of us use a slightlt larger grained sand in the range of 0.75mm - 1.5mm. I would also advise cycling the new base rock before moving over your livestock as it often contains enough dried on organics to start a new cycle which could kill your fish.

Zante · 04/25/2013, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

I would avoid the crushed coral, it traps detritus which leads to long term nitrate issues. Fine sand looks great and the fish love it, but it does tend to get blown around the tank a lot with water movement so many of us use a slightlt larger grained sand in the range of 0.75mm - 1.5mm

Thanks, that is actually what I was referring to as "fine"

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

. I would also advise cycling the new base rock before moving over your livestock as it often contains enough dried on organics to start a new cycle which could kill your fish.

Oh, yes, absolutely! The live is going to be added gratually over several weeks, so it will have plenty of time to cycle, and the contents of the smaller reef are going to be moved at the very last moment.

thegrun · 04/25/2013, 05:46 PM

Good luck

oscarinw · 04/25/2013, 08:34 PM

IMO it all depends on what it is that you want to keep and what functions you need your substrate to play... A deep sand bed is recommended for nitrate management but for that to take place you need at least a 4 inch sandbed which can run a pretty penny or you can go without a substrate for a more modern/clean look.
If you want to go with the sandbed, there's a great article on the appropriate/ideal size of the sand. It states that you want 1/16" to 1/8" grain size. I believe the name for that sand is 'oolitic'. Can't seem to find the article but I'll keep looking and if I do, I'll copy the link for you.
Also, some fish you may want to consider in the future require a specific type of sand. Some sifter gobies will have trouble working with too big sand particles and some wrasses like the yellow wrasse sleeps in the sand making crushed coral a bad option as the fish snout will get irritated and might fall victim of an infection.
In general I prefer the finer sands. I agree with 'thegrun' it looks prettier and will not accumulate detritus. My recommendation, almost good enough for any situation will be a 'sugar sized' aragonite sand. Wash it well in RODI and you should have a good looking and useful medium for most inhabitants.
Good luck with things!

Zante · 04/26/2013, 12:31 AM

No worries for the stock, I listed only those that would use the sand, but the stocking plan is pretty much complete, and it's unlikely to change.

There will be a deep sand bed, but in the sump/refugium, so the display sand bed will be just decorative and for the benefit of the stock.

Ok, thanks for the advice, I will look out for sugar sized aragonite and start buying bags of it to shuttle home (no car

)

Zante · 04/26/2013, 12:36 AM

... come to think about it, ok with the sugar-sized aragonite for the display tank, what about the refugium?

It will have a deep sand bed for denitrification, some live rock, a couple of non burrowing snails, three blue legged hermits and two emerald crabs, with a selection of macroalgae for nutrient extraction.

What sand would be more appropriate there?
Also considering what would be better for copepod, rotifer and other plankton production.

Zante · 04/28/2013, 02:51 PM

Ok, this is what I'm planning for the tank:

The footprint is 5 feet x 2 feet.

I will be getting three bags of this: http://www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/...sand-30lb.html to which I will add the approximately 25lb of live sand (a 50/50 mix of crushed coral and aragonite) I have in my current small reef.

That should allow me to have beautiful sand in my display with a sufficient depth for my sand dwelling critters and a DSB in my sump/refugium.

What do you think?

04/25/2013, 02:30 AM	#1
Zante Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: London (UK) Posts: 338	Sand and base rock My larger tank is currently empty. I am making some changes to the sump, so it will be empty for a while yet. It's supposed to be an upgrade for an existing reef (from 29 to 150 US gallons). My plan is to place dry base rock on which to build the reef and then add a layer of dry sand. The live sand I have in my current reef will then seed the dry sand when I'll transfer the contents of the smaller reef. The live rock will be then placed using the dry rock as a base. (I will fill the tank with water before I put the live sand and rocks in don't worry ) Question is: what sand should I go for? Crushed coral? Aragonite? Something else? A mix? I am a saltwater noob, so I really don't know what the difference is and what else is out there apart from aragonite and crushed coral. Currently in the smaller reef there is a 50/50 mix of both, fine aragonite and coarser (1-2mm) crushed coral. Definitely it will have to be white. I like the look of fine sand, but I can live with a larger grain if recommended for my critters. I will have some flasher wrasses (not sure if they need sand but mentioning them anyway), yellow watchman gobies, tiger pistol shrimps, nassarius snails, a fighter conch. There is more stock, but not sand-dwelling.

04/25/2013, 06:49 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I would avoid the crushed coral, it traps detritus which leads to long term nitrate issues. Fine sand looks great and the fish love it, but it does tend to get blown around the tank a lot with water movement so many of us use a slightlt larger grained sand in the range of 0.75mm - 1.5mm. I would also advise cycling the new base rock before moving over your livestock as it often contains enough dried on organics to start a new cycle which could kill your fish.

04/25/2013, 05:46 PM	#4
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Good luck

04/25/2013, 08:34 PM	#5
oscarinw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,091	IMO it all depends on what it is that you want to keep and what functions you need your substrate to play... A deep sand bed is recommended for nitrate management but for that to take place you need at least a 4 inch sandbed which can run a pretty penny or you can go without a substrate for a more modern/clean look. If you want to go with the sandbed, there's a great article on the appropriate/ideal size of the sand. It states that you want 1/16" to 1/8" grain size. I believe the name for that sand is 'oolitic'. Can't seem to find the article but I'll keep looking and if I do, I'll copy the link for you. Also, some fish you may want to consider in the future require a specific type of sand. Some sifter gobies will have trouble working with too big sand particles and some wrasses like the yellow wrasse sleeps in the sand making crushed coral a bad option as the fish snout will get irritated and might fall victim of an infection. In general I prefer the finer sands. I agree with 'thegrun' it looks prettier and will not accumulate detritus. My recommendation, almost good enough for any situation will be a 'sugar sized' aragonite sand. Wash it well in RODI and you should have a good looking and useful medium for most inhabitants. Good luck with things!

04/26/2013, 12:31 AM	#6
Zante Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: London (UK) Posts: 338	No worries for the stock, I listed only those that would use the sand, but the stocking plan is pretty much complete, and it's unlikely to change. There will be a deep sand bed, but in the sump/refugium, so the display sand bed will be just decorative and for the benefit of the stock. Ok, thanks for the advice, I will look out for sugar sized aragonite and start buying bags of it to shuttle home (no car )

04/26/2013, 12:36 AM	#7
Zante Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: London (UK) Posts: 338	... come to think about it, ok with the sugar-sized aragonite for the display tank, what about the refugium? It will have a deep sand bed for denitrification, some live rock, a couple of non burrowing snails, three blue legged hermits and two emerald crabs, with a selection of macroalgae for nutrient extraction. What sand would be more appropriate there? Also considering what would be better for copepod, rotifer and other plankton production.

04/28/2013, 02:51 PM	#8
Zante Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: London (UK) Posts: 338	Ok, this is what I'm planning for the tank: The footprint is 5 feet x 2 feet. I will be getting three bags of this: http://www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/...sand-30lb.html to which I will add the approximately 25lb of live sand (a 50/50 mix of crushed coral and aragonite) I have in my current small reef. That should allow me to have beautiful sand in my display with a sufficient depth for my sand dwelling critters and a DSB in my sump/refugium. What do you think?